Chinese Character: 桂
1. Character Basics
Radical: 木/mù (wood), 圭/guī (jade tablet)
Stroke Count: 10 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Guì (Fourth tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Cassia; osmanthus tree
Extended Meaning: The sweet-scented osmanthus flower; laurel
Additional Meaning: Used in place names (e.g., Guilin city in Guangxi province)
4. Common Words
- 桂花 (guì huā): Sweet-scented osmanthus flower
Example: 桂花开了，很香。(Guì huā kāi le, hěn xiāng.) - The osmanthus flowers are blooming, they smell wonderful. - 桂圆 (guì yuán): Longan fruit
Example: 我喜欢吃桂圆。(Wǒ xǐ huan chī guì yuán.) - I like to eat longan fruit. - 桂林 (Guì lín): Guilin city (famous tourist city in China)
Example: 桂林山水甲天下。(Guì lín shān shuǐ jiǎ tiān xià.) - The mountains and waters of Guilin are the best under heaven. - 桂冠 (guì guān): Laurel wreath; honor
Example: 他获得了科学奖的桂冠。(Tā huò dé le kē xué jiǎng de guì guān.) - He won the laurel of the science award. - 桂皮 (guì pí): Cinnamon bark
Example: 煮红烧肉需要桂皮。(Zhǔ hóng shāo ròu xū yào guì pí.) - You need cinnamon bark to cook braised pork.
5. Grammar & Usage
Noun Usage:
- Most commonly used as a noun to refer to the osmanthus tree or its flower
- Can be used in compound words related to plants, fruits, and places
Common Structures:
- As a component in place names: 桂林 (Guilin), 桂阳 (Guiyang)
- In food and drink terms: 桂花茶 (osmanthus tea), 桂圆汤 (longan soup)
Collocations:
- 与花/树/果组合: 桂花 (osmanthus flower), 桂树 (osmanthus tree), 桂果 (osmanthus fruit)
- 与地名组合: 广西桂平 (Guiping, Guangxi)
6. Cultural Background
The character "桂" has significant cultural meanings in Chinese tradition:
- The sweet-scented osmanthus (桂花) is one of the most beloved flowers in China, symbolizing nobility, good luck, and success
- Osmanthus flowers are often used in traditional Chinese cuisine, pastries, and teas
- Guilin city in Guangxi province is world-famous for its stunning karst landscape and is one of China's top tourist destinations
- In ancient China, osmanthus was associated with the Moon, and there's a famous legend about the Moon Goddess Chang'e living in a palace surrounded by osmanthus trees
- The Double Ninth Festival (重阳节) often features osmanthus wine, which is believed to bring longevity
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
每年秋天，校园里的桂花开满了枝头。
(Měi nián qiū tiān, xiào yuán lǐ de guì huā kāi mǎn le zhī tóu.)
Every autumn, the osmanthus flowers in the campus bloom all over the branches.
Example 2:
我想去桂林旅游，看看那里的山水。
(Wǒ xiǎng qù Guì lín lǚ yóu, kàn kan nà lǐ de shān shuǐ.)
I want to travel to Guilin to see the mountains and waters there.
Example 3:
妈妈做的桂花糕很好吃。
(Mā ma zuò de guì huā gāo hěn hǎo chī.)
The osmanthus cake made by my mom is very delicious.
8. Memory Tips
Here are some tips to help you remember the character "桂":
- Component Breakdown: 木 (wood) + 圭 (jade tablet) = 桂 (cassia tree). Think of a tree that produces valuable aromatic flowers, like a "precious wood"
- Image Association: Imagine a beautiful osmanthus tree with yellow flowers, and remember that "桂" represents this fragrant tree
- Sound Association: The pronunciation "guì" sounds similar to "贵" (expensive), and osmanthus is considered a valuable and precious flower
- Word Association: Link "桂" with famous things like "桂林山水" (Guilin landscape) or "桂花茶" (osmanthus tea)
- Cultural Context: Remember the Moon Goddess legend - think of Chang'e in the Moon Palace surrounded by osmanthus trees